P A G E | 1 ITA NOS.5211 TO 5213/MUM/2018 A.YS. 2009 - 10, 2010 - 11 & 2012 - 13 SANGHAVI EXPORTS INTERNATION AL PVT. LTD. VS. DY. CIT - 5(3)(1 IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL MUMBAI BENCH G MUMBAI BEFORE SHRI S.RIFAUR REHMAN (ACCOUNTANT MEMBER) AND SHRI RAVISH SOOD (JUDICIAL MEMBER) ITA NOS.5211 TO 5213/MUM/2018 (ASSESSMENT YEARS: 2009 - 10, 2010 - 11 & 2012 - 13) SANGHAVI EXPORTS INTERNATIONAL PVT. LTD. , CE - 4011, CE - 4012, CE - 4013, BHARAT DIAMONDS BOURSE, BKC, BANDRA EAST , MUMBAI 400 051 VS. DY. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX - 5(3)(1),5 TH FLOOR, AAYAKAR BHAVAN,M.K. ROAD, MUMBAI 400 020 PAN NO. AAKCS7350N APPELLANT RESPONDENT ASSESSEE BY : SHRI. SUCHEK ANCHALIYA REVENUE BY : SHRI. V. VINOD KUMAR DATE OF HEARING : 28 /11/2019 DA TE OF PRONOUNCEMENT : 2 9 /11/2019 ORDER PER BENCH: THE CAPTIONED APPEALS HAVE BEEN FILED BY THE ASSESSEE AGAINST THE CONSOLIDATED ORDER PASSED BY THE CIT(A) - 10, MUMBAI FOR A.Y. 2009 - 10, A.Y. 2010 - 11 AND A.Y. 2012 - 13. AS A COMMON ISSUE IS INVOLVED IN THE AFORESAID APPEALS, THEREFORE, THE SAME ARE BEING TAKEN UP AND DISPOSED OFF BY WAY OF A CONSOLIDATED ORDER. WE SHALL FIRST ADVERT TO THE APPEAL OF THE ASSESSEE FOR A.Y. 2009 - 10. THE ASSESSEE HAS ASSAILED THE IMPUGNED ORDER BY RAISING BEFORE US THE FOLLOWING GROUNDS OF APPEAL: 1. ON THE FACTS AND IN THE CIRCUMSTANCE S OF THE CASE AND IN LAW. THE LD . CIT(A) ERRED IN DISMISSING THE APPEAL AGAINST THE ASSESSMENT ORDER ISSUED BY THE LD. AO ON GROUND THAT THE APPEAL HAS BECOME IN FRUCTUOUS AS THE SAME HAS BEEN SET ASIDE BY PRINCIPAL CIT U/S 263 OF THE INCOME TAX ACT. 1961. 2. ON THE FACTS AND IN THE CIRCU MSTANCES OF THE CASE AND IN LAW , THE LD. CIT(A) ERRED IN NOT GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THE CASE BEFORE LD. CIT(A). 3. ON THE FACTS AND IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE AND IN LAW, THE LD. CIT(A) ERRED IN DISMISSING THE APPEAL AGAINST THE ADDITION OF GROSS PROFIT MADE BY THE LD . AO @ 5.80% P A G E | 2 ITA NOS.5211 TO 5213/MUM/2018 A.YS. 2009 - 10, 2010 - 11 & 2012 - 13 SANGHAVI EXPORTS INTERNATION AL PVT. LTD. VS. DY. CIT - 5(3)(1 OF PURCHASES OF RS.37,6 1 ,55, 228/ - BY TREATIN G THE GENUINE PURCHASES AS ACCOMMODATION ENT RY BY LD. AO 4. TH E APPELLANT CRAVES LEAVE TO ADD, ALTER OR DELETE ALL OR MODIFY ANY OR ALL THE ABOVE GROUNDS OF APPEAL. 2. BRIEFLY STATED, THE ASSESSEE COMPANY WHICH IS ENGAGED IN THE BUSINESS OF MANUFACTURING AND EXPORT OF CUT & POLISHED DIAMONDS HAD E - FILED ITS RETURN OF INCOME FOR A.Y. 2009 - 10 ON 29.09.2019, DECLARING ITS TOTAL LOSS AT RS.52,96,729/ - . THE BOOK PROFIT OF THE ASSESSEE COMPANY AS PER THE PROVISIONS OF SEC.115JB WAS COMPUTED AT RS .6,74,05,764/ - . ORIGINAL ASSESSMENT WAS FRAMED BY THE A.O, VIDE HIS ORDER PASSED UNDER SEC. 143(3) , DATED 26.03.2013 , AND THE INCOME OF THE ASSESSEE WAS ASSESSED AT RS.24,01,908/ - UNDER THE NORMAL PROVISIONS, WHILE FOR ITS BOOK PROFIT UNDER SEC. 115JB WAS WORKED OUT AT RS.7,31,15,250/ - . 3. SUBSEQUENTLY, O N THE BASIS OF INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM THE INVESTIGATION WING OF THE DEPARTMENT, THAT THE ASSESSEE AS A BENEFICIARY HAD OBTAINED BOGUS PURCHASE BILLS FROM CERTAIN HAWALA DEALERS, ITS CASE WAS REOPENE D UNDER SEC.147 OF THE ACT. 4. IN THE COURSE OF THE ASSESSMENT PROCEEDINGS, THE A.O O BSERVING THAT THE ASSESSEE HAD FAILED TO SUBSTANTIATE THE GENUINENESS AND VERACITY OF THE IMPUGNED PURCHASE TRANSACTIONS, THEREFORE, ESTIMATED THE PROFIT ELEMENT EMBEDDED IN MAKING OF THE IMPUGNED PURCHASES BY THE ASSESSEE FROM THE OPEN/GREY MARKET AT 12.50% OF THE AGGREGATE VALUE OF SUCH PURCHASES. OUT OF THE ESTIMATED PROFIT RATE OF 12.5%, THE A.O REDUCED THE G.P RATE OF 6.70% OF THE ASSESSEE FOR THE YEAR UNDER CONSIDERA TION, AND RESULTANTLY MADE AN EFFECTIVE ADDITION OF 5.80% OF THE AGGREGATE VALUE OF THE IMPUGNED PURCHASE TRANSACTIONS. 5. AGGRIEVED, THE ASSESSEE ASSAILED THE ASSESSMENT IN APPEAL BEFORE THE CIT(A). IN THE MEAN TIME , THE PR. CIT - 5, MUMBAI, CALLED FOR THE RECORDS OF THE ASSESSEE UNDER SEC.263 OF THE ACT. OBSERVING, THAT THE A.O HAD ERRED IN RESTRICTING THE ADDITION IN RESPECT OF THE IMPUGNED PURCHASE TRANSACTIONS ONLY TO THE EXTENT OF THE PROFIT EMBEDDED IN MAKING OF S UCH PURCHASES I.E @ 5.80%, THE PR. CIT WAS OF THE VIEW THAT THE ASSESSMENT ORDER PASSED BY HIM WAS THUS RENDERED AS ERRONEOUS, INSOFAR IT WAS PREJUDICIAL TO THE INTEREST OF THE REVENUE. ACCORDINGLY, THE PR. CIT VIDE HIS ORDER PASSED UNDER SEC.263, DATED 23 .03.2018, THEREIN SET ASIDE THE ORDER OF THE A.O AND DIRECTED HIM TO PASS A FRESH ASSESSMENT ORDER AFTER CONSIDERING THE JUDGMENT OF P A G E | 3 ITA NOS.5211 TO 5213/MUM/2018 A.YS. 2009 - 10, 2010 - 11 & 2012 - 13 SANGHAVI EXPORTS INTERNATION AL PVT. LTD. VS. DY. CIT - 5(3)(1 THE HONBLE SUPREME COURT IN THE CASE OF N.K. PROTEINS LTD. VS. DCIT (2017) 250 TAXMAN 22 (SC). 6. AGGRIEVED, THE ASSESSE E ASSAILED THE ORDER PASSED BY THE PR. CIT UNDER SEC. 263 BEFORE THE TRIBUNAL. IN THE MEAN TIME, THE CIT(A) - 10, MUMBAI, VIDE HIS ORDER DATED 29.06.2018, OBSERV ED THAT THE IMPUGNED ASSESSMENT ORDER PASSED BY THE A.O UNDER SEC.143(3) R.W.S 147, DATED 30.03.2 016 WAS SET ASIDE BY THE PR. CIT - 5, MUMBAI, VIDE HIS ORDER PASSED UNDER SEC. 263, DATED 23.03.2018 . OBSERVING, THAT THE PURSUANT TO THE ORDER PASSED BY THE PR. CIT UNDER SEC. 263, DATED 23.03.2018, THE IMPUGNED ASSESSMENT ORDER PASSED BY THE A.O UNDER SE C. 143(3) R.W.S 147, DATED 30.03.2016, HAD BEEN SET ASIDE, THEREFORE, THE CIT(A) DISMISSED THE APPEAL OF THE ASSESSEE AS HAVING BEEN RENDERED AS INFRUCTUOUS. 7. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE TRIBUNAL, VIDE ITS ORDER DATED 30.11.2018 IN ITA NO. 3180/MUM/2018, DATED 3 0.11.2018 , WHILE DISPOSING OFF THE APPEAL OF THE ASSESSEE AGAINST THE ORDER PASSED BY THE PR. CIT - 5, MUMBAI UNDER SEC. 263, DATED 23.03.2018, THEREIN SET ASIDE THE ORDER PASSED UNDER SEC.263 OF THE ACT. IT WAS OBSERVED BY THE TRIBUNAL, THAT AS THE A.O HAD ADOPTED ONE OF THE POSSIBLE VIEW S , THEREFORE, THE PR. CIT WAS IN ERROR IN EXERCISING HIS REVISIONAL JURISDICTION UNDER SEC.263 OF THE ACT. 8. IN THE BACKDROP OF THE AFORESAID FACTS , IT WAS SUBMITTED BY THE LD. AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE (FOR SHORT A.R) FOR THE ASSESSEE , THAT THE ORDER PASSED BY THE PR. CIT - 5, MUMBAI UNDER SC. 263, DATED 23.03.2018 , HAD BEEN QUASHED BY THE TRIBUNAL, VIDE ITS ORDER PASSED IN ITA NO. 31 80 /MUM/20 18, DATED 30.11.2018 FOR THE YEAR UNDER CONSIDERATION I.E A.Y. 2009 - 10 . ON THE BASIS OF HIS AFORESAID CONTENTION, IT WAS AVERRED BY THE LD. A.R, THAT AS THE ORDER PASSED BY THE PR. CIT UNDER SEC. 263 HAD BEEN QUASHED, THEREFORE, CONSEQUENTLY THE ORDER PASS ED BY THE A.O UNDER SEC. 143(3) R.W.S 147, DATED 30.03.2016 STANDS RESTORED. ACCORDINGLY, IT WAS SUBMITTED BY THE LD. A.R, THAT IN THE BACKDROP OF THE AFORESAID FACTS , THE DISMISSAL OF THE ASSESSES APPEAL BY THE CIT(A) AS HAVING BEEN RENDERED AS INFRUCTUOU S, FOR THE REASON, THAT THE ASSESSMENT ORDER PASSED BY THE A.O UNDER SEC. 143(3) R.W.S 147, DATED 30.03.2016 HAD BEEN SET ASIDE BY THE PR. CIT - 5, MUMBAI, VIDE HIS ORDER PASSED UNDER SEC. 263, DATED 23.03.2018, COULD NO MORE BE SUSTAINED. IN SUM AND SUBST ANCE, IT WAS THE CLAIM OF THE LD. A.R, THAT AS THE ORDER OF THE PR. CIT - 5, MUMBAI, UNDER SEC.263 HAD BEEN QUASHED BY P A G E | 4 ITA NOS.5211 TO 5213/MUM/2018 A.YS. 2009 - 10, 2010 - 11 & 2012 - 13 SANGHAVI EXPORTS INTERNATION AL PVT. LTD. VS. DY. CIT - 5(3)(1 THE TRIBUNAL, THEREFORE, THE ORIGINAL ASSESSMENT ORDER PASSED BY THE A.O UNDER SEC.143(3) R.W.S 147, DATED 30.03.2016 STANDS RESTORED. ON THE BASIS OF HIS AFORESAID CONTENTIONS, IT WAS AVERRED BY THE LD. A.R THAT THE ORDER OF THE CIT(A) DISMISSING THE APPEAL OF THE ASSESSEE AS HAVING BEEN RENDERED AS INFRUCTUOUS MAY BE SET ASIDE , WITH A DIRECTION TO HIM TO DISPOSE OFF THE SAME ON THE BASI S OF A SPEAKING ORDER. 9. PER CONTRA, THE LD. DEPARTMENTAL REPRESENTATIVE (FOR SHORT D.R) RELIED ON THE ORDERS OF THE LOWER AUTHORITIES. 10. WE HAVE HEARD THE AUTHORISED REPRESENTATIVES FOR BOTH THE PARTIES, PERUSED THE ORDERS OF THE LOWER AUTHORITIES AND THE MATERIAL AVAILABLE ON RECORD. ADMITTEDLY, THE ORDER PASSED BY THE PR.CIT - 5, MUMBAI, UNDER SEC.263, DATED 23.03.2018 HAD BEEN QUASHED BY T HE TRIBUNAL, VIDE ITS ORDER PASSED IN ITA NO. 31 80 /MUM/2018, DATED 30.11.2018. AS IS DISCERNIBLE FROM THE RECORDS, THE CIT(A) - 10, MUMBAI, TAKING COGNIZANCE OF THE FACT THAT THE ASSESSMENT ORDER UNDER SEC. 143(3) R.W.S 147, DATED 30.03.2016, HAD BEEN SET A SIDE BY THE PR. CIT - 5, MUMBAI, VIDE HIS ORDER PASSED UNDER SEC.263, DATED 23.03.2018, HAD THUS , FOR THE SAID REASON DISMISSED THE APPEAL OF THE ASSESSEE AS HAVING BEEN RENDERED AS INFRUCTUOUS. IN OUR CONSIDERED VIEW, NOW WHEN THE ORDER PASSED BY THE PR. C IT - 5, MUMBAI, UNDER SEC. 263, DATED 23.03.2018 IN ITSELF HAD BEEN QUASHED BY THE TRIBUNAL, VIDE ITS ORDER DATED 30.11.2018, THEREFORE, THE ORIGINAL ASSESSMENT ORDER PASSED BY THE A.O UNDER SEC. 143(3) R.W.S 147, DATED 30.03.2016 STANDS RESTORED. ACCORDIN GLY, IN THE BACKDROP OF THE AFORESAID SHIFT IN FACTS, WE ARE OF THE CONSIDERED VIEW THAT THE DISMISSAL OF THE APPEAL BY THE CIT(A), FOR THE REASON, THAT AS THE ASSESSMENT ORDER UNDER SEC.143(3) R.W.S 147, DATED 30.03.2016 HAD BEEN SET ASIDE BY THE PR. CI T IN EXERCISE OF HIS REVISIONAL JURISDICTION, THEREFORE, THE APPEAL OF THE ASSESSEE WAS RENDERED AS INFRUCTUOUS, CANNOT BE SUSTAINED AND IS LIABLE TO BE VACATED. WE THUS RESTORE THE MATTER TO THE FILE OF THE CIT(A), WITH A DIRECTION TO HIM TO DISPOSE OFF T HE APPEAL AFTER AFFORDING A SUFFICIENT OPPORTUNITY OF BEING HEARD TO THE ASSESSEE. 11. RESULTANTLY, IN TERMS OF OUR AFORESAID OBSERVATIONS THE MATTER IS RESTORED TO THE FILE OF THE CIT(A) FOR FRESH ADJUDICATION. 12. RESULTANTLY, THE APPEAL OF THE ASSESSE E FOR A.Y. 2009 - 10 IN ITA NO. 5211/MUM/2018 IS ALLOWED FOR STATISTICAL PURPOSES. P A G E | 5 ITA NOS.5211 TO 5213/MUM/2018 A.YS. 2009 - 10, 2010 - 11 & 2012 - 13 SANGHAVI EXPORTS INTERNATION AL PVT. LTD. VS. DY. CIT - 5(3)(1 A.Y. 2010 - 11 & A.Y. 2012 - 13 ITA NOS. 5212 & 5213/MUM/2018 13. AS THE FACTS AND THE ISSUE INVOLVED IN THE CAPTIONED APPEALS OF THE ASSESSEE REMAINS THE SAME AS WERE THERE BEFORE US IN ITS APPEAL FOR THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING YEAR I.E A.Y. 2009 - 10, IN ITA NO. 5211/MUM/2018, THEREFORE, OUR ORDER THEREIN PASSED SHALL APPLY MUTATIS MUTANDIS F OR THE DISPOSAL OF THE CAPTIONED APPEALS I.E A.Y. 2010 - 11 ( ITA NO.5213/MUM/2018 ) AND A.Y. 2012 - 13 ( ITA NO.5212/MUM/2018 ) . ACCORDINGLY , THE CAPTIONED APPEALS OF THE ASSESSEE FOR A.Y. 2010 - 11 AND A.Y. 2012 - 13 ARE RESTORED TO THE FILE OF THE CIT(A) FOR FRESH ADJUDICATION AFTER AFFORDING SUFFICIENT OPPORTUNITY OF BEING HEARD TO THE ASSESSEE. 14. RESULTANTLY, THE CAPTIONED APPEALS OF THE ASSESSEE VIZ. A.Y. 2009 - 10 (ITA 5211/MUM/2018), A.Y. 2010 - 11 (ITA NO.5213/MUM/2018) & A.Y. 2012 - 13 (ITA NO. 5212/MUM/2018) A RE ALLOWED FOR STATISTICAL PURPOSES IN TERMS OF OUR AFORESAID OBSERVATIONS. ORDER PRO NOUNCED IN THE OPEN COURT ON 2 9 . 11.2019 S D / - S D / - ( S.RIFAUR REHMAN ) (RAVISH SOOD) ACCOUNTANT MEMBER JUDICIAL MEMBER MUMBAI ; 29 .11 .2019 PS. ROHIT / COPY OF THE ORDER FORWARDED TO : 1. / THE APPELLANT 2. / THE RESPONDENT. 3. ( ) / THE CIT(A) - 4. / CIT 5. , , / DR, ITAT, MUMBAI